MOORHEAD, MN -- The Minot State Beavers are hitting the road with renewed energy and confidence as they prepare for a pivotal Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference matchup this weekend. Coming off their first victory of the season, the Beavers (1-4 overall, 1-3 NSIC) will face the high-powered passing attack of the MSU Moorhead Dragons (3-2, 2-2 NSIC) on Saturday, October 4, with kickoff scheduled for 12:00 p.m. at Scheels Field at Nemzek Stadium.

Last Saturday, Minot State delivered one of its most exciting wins in recent history, defeating rival Bemidji State 28-21 at home on Energy Day and Faculty & Staff Appreciation Day. The victory was fueled by a balanced ground attack on offense and a clutch defensive performance late in the game.

The Beavers leaned on their physical rushing attack, totaling 319 yards on the ground behind an offensive line that controlled the line of scrimmage for much of the afternoon.

Devan Daniels led all rushers with 93 yards on 17 carries (5.5 ypc).

Quarterback Carson Chrisman continued to show his dual-threat ability with 77 rushing yards and a 1-yard touchdown run while managing the offense efficiently.

Evan Lovett added 63 yards and a score, showcasing his tough downhill running style.

Head coach Ian Shields credited the offensive front and running backs for stepping up after a difficult outing against Winona State.

"We didn't feel good about how we played up front last week, and I thought we did a nice job this time establishing the run," Shields said. "Our guys up front played hard. Evan had some tough runs that moved the chains, Carson's decision-making and toughness were big for us, and Devan is a playmaker — one of the fastest players in the league. I'm proud of the way they responded."

On the defensive side, sophomore cornerback Nalu Cordeiro stole the spotlight. Cordeiro recorded two interceptions, including a dramatic 49-yard pick-six with under six minutes to play that gave Minot State a 28-21 lead. His second interception came in the closing minutes with Bemidji State threatening to score, effectively sealing the win.

Shields spoke on Cordeiro's instincts and resilience:

"That's as big as it gets. Nalu's a special player. As a true freshman last year he had the ball in his hands in big moments, and even though he's been banged up, he showed why we trust him in those situations. Special players step up in the fourth quarter when the game's on the line, and he did."

The defense forced three turnovers on the day, including a fumble recovery by Brayan Augustin, and capitalized on those takeaways by turning them into seven points.

Meanwhile, the Beavers' offense stayed mistake-free, committing no turnovers and converting all three red-zone trips into touchdowns.

Minot State also dominated the time of possession, controlling the ball for 35:59 compared to Bemidji State's 24:01, a testament to the success of the ground game and third-down execution.

The win marked only the second time in school history that Minot State has come out on top in the "Battle of the Beavers" series, and Shields said it was a meaningful moment for the program.

"It was a big win for a lot of reasons. We have guys who are resilient and tough, and it's a testament to their leadership. Winning feels better — the sun shines a little brighter, the food tastes better — but we know there's still work to do. We want to keep moving forward."

The Beavers will need to build on that momentum as they head to Moorhead to take on a Dragons team with one of the NSIC's top passing attacks. Last season's matchup in Minot was a high-scoring battle that came down to the wire, with the Dragons winning 42-38.

Saturday's contest will feature a matchup of two very different offensive philosophies.

Minot State enters with one of the most potent rushing offenses in the league, piling up over 300 rushing yards in two of its last three games.

MSU Moorhead, by contrast, is led by a preseason First-Team All-American quarterback and leans heavily on its aerial attack.

Coach Shields acknowledged the challenge of facing a seasoned Dragons squad:

"Moorhead is as opposite of us as you can get — they throw it almost every down while we lean on the run," Shields said. "They're well-coached, talented, and have one of the best quarterbacks in the country at this level, plus a great group of receivers. Defensively, they fly around and play hard. It's a huge challenge, and we'll need to play our best football."

The Beavers' Week 5 performance demonstrated progress in all three phases of the game, offense, defense, and special teams, and the challenge now is to keep that improvement going on the road against a quality opponent.

"We got better last week, and that's encouraging," Shields said. "We still left some things on the table, but we made plays in the clutch and that's what it takes. Now we need another great week of practice because these games are won Monday through Friday with preparation."

Kickoff is set for 12:00 p.m. on Saturday, October 4, at Scheels Field at Nemzek Stadium in Moorhead, Minnesota, as the Beavers aim to string together consecutive wins and continue their climb in NSIC play.